The Kremlin Won Chess Crown and Lost Front Going

Kirsan Ilyumzhanov re-elected to the post of the president of the World Chess Federation having won world ex-champion Anatoly Karpov. 95 participants of the Congress of General Assembly which took place in Khanty-Mansyisk voted for Ilyumzhanov, 55 - for Karpov.

Elections were accompanied by conflicts of the supporters of two candidates for the head of FIDE: between the Russian officials supported Ilyumzhinov and Garry Kasparov who was on the part of the 12th world champion Karpov.

Ilyumzhinov was promoted by the Russian Chess Federation, Karpov - by the USA and France. The last uses to be a member of eight national Federations and following the rules of FIDE every of them could be offered for the post.

- Injuriousness of the situation is that one of the national chess heroes, legend of chess world Anatoly Karpov was compelled to be offered by foreign federations, while at home support was received by mister with, to put it mildly, disputable reputation who hardly has relation to chess, - editor-in-chief of FORUM.msk Anatoly Baranov noted. - Though I won't pay your attention to this, actually, quite normal for modern Russian life ugliness, if Garry Kasparov - one more national chess legend and simultaneously one of the most promising leaders of the liberal wing of opposition didn't support Karpov. It's his participation turned elections of the head of FIDE into political issue. Staffing election win turned to the Kremlin great defeat in reputation.

Аnatoly Karpov declared that participants of the World Chess Federation which main target was to elect president of FIDE were strongly pressed.

What happened at the Congress in Khanty-Mansyisk is shameful for Russia and chess, Karpov noticed. He also added that his further cooperation with FIDE is hardly possible.